At the 2024 Academy of Country Music Awards, Lainey Wilson had an unforgettable night, taking home the prestigious Entertainer of the Year and Female Artist of the Year honors.

Reflecting on her journey, Wilson shared, «I’ve been chasing this dream in Nashville for 13 years. Every single person in this category has believed in me, and I can’t thank y’all enough.»

Her victory places her among an elite group of female country artists to earn the ACM’s top prize. Miranda Lambert secured the title in 2022, while Carrie Underwood shared the honor with Thomas Rhett in 2020—a historic first-time tie and the first female win since Taylor Swift’s triumph in 2012.

Lainey Wilson Secures ACM Triple Crown Award

Wilson opened the 59th annual ACM Awards in spectacular fashion, delivering a lively performance of «God Blessed Texas» by Little Texas before seamlessly transitioning into her latest single, «Hang Tight Honey.»

Shortly after, country legends Clay Walker and Randy Travis presented Jordan Davis with Song of the Year for his massive hit, «Next Thing You Know.»

«This song means the world to me, and I owe everything to the fans who embraced it,» Davis said. «I fell in love with songwriting because of songs that won this award before, and holding this right now is surreal.»

The night also brought another victory for Wilson, as she and Jelly Roll won Music Event of the Year for their powerful collaboration, «Save Me.»

An Emotional Moment for Jelly Roll

Jelly Roll, visibly moved, took the stage to express his gratitude.

«No pun intended, but this song truly saved me,» he said, his voice cracking with emotion. «I never imagined I’d be standing here as an ACM award winner. At one point, I thought my life was headed in a completely different direction.»

A Tribute to Toby Keith

Hosted by Reba McEntire, the ACM Awards took place at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. One of the most anticipated performances of the evening came when Jason Aldean took the stage to honor the late Toby Keith.

With just an acoustic guitar, Aldean delivered a heartfelt rendition of «Should’ve Been a Cowboy,» as the crowd joined in, and Keith’s family looked on with tearful expressions.

Throughout his career, Toby Keith collected 14 ACM Awards, including two Entertainer of the Year titles. He passed away in February at the age of 62 after battling stomach cancer.

Chris Stapleton’s Big Wins

The night also saw Chris Stapleton taking home two major awards: Album of the Year and Male Artist of the Year.

«It’s an honor to even be considered in this category,» Stapleton said during his acceptance speech. «The talent here is incredible, and I’m just grateful to be part of this community.»

With unforgettable performances, emotional tributes, and well-deserved wins, the 2024 ACM Awards proved to be a celebration of country music at its finest.